Tools

A visit to the White House could be what the Giants need after they dropped their fifth consecutive game at AT&T Park on Wednesday.

Today the Giants will make a pit stop in Washington, D.C., where President Barack Obama will celebrate the squad for its 2014 World Series title.

"It's a great way to spend our off day — traveling and going to meet the president," said Tim Hudson, the hard-luck loser. "It's going to be a good day."

As the Giants embark on the six-game road trip, they certainly won't be sorry to say goodbye to Pittsburgh Pirates star Andrew McCutchen, who played a lead role in his team's three-game sweep.

"It was one of those series," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "What could go wrong went wrong."

McCutchen went 6 for 10 with four RBI in the set, but the outfielder has been battering the Giants ever since Bochy bypassed him for a berth on the 2011 All-Star team.

Bochy found spots on the National League team for Giants pitchers Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Brian Wilson and Ryan Vogelsong, but he left off McCutchen, who had a .294 batting average, 12 home runs and 15 stolen bases at the time.

McCutchen eventually received an invitation as an injury replacement, but ever since then, he's racked up a .392 average against the Giants in 31 contests. When asked if the snub had any part in how well he produced against them, McCutchen hedged a bit.

Cain, who pitched three innings in an extended spring training game in Arizona on Wednesday, will the team at the White House, but Lincecum will miss out. The right-hander will fly to Philadelphia in order to get rest before his scheduled start against the Phillies on Friday night.

According to Bochy, Hunter Pence will return to the lineup for the first game in Philadelphia after a bruised left wrist kept him in the dugout in the series finale.